Sign signal mechanism



Juime 14, 1960 Filed Sept. 13, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 F I6. I

F IG. 2

I2 5 b I c l5 l5 l0 IO INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 a. c CHASE SIGN SIGNAL MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fiied Sept. 13, 1955.

FIG.3

IQ\\ \\\l INVENTOR GEORGE C. C E /d? ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 I G. c. CHASE smu SIGNAL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 13, 1955' 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I FIG. IO

NVENTOR ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 s. c. CHASE ,5

SIGN SIGNAL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 15. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 NVENTOR GEORGE C.C 55

ATTORNEY 'June 14, 1960 SIGN SIGNAL MECHANISM G. c. CHASE 2,940,668

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 13, 1955 GE GE CiHA E /y ATTO R N EY United States Patent 2,940,668 SIGN SIGNAL MECHANISM George C. Chase, South Orange, NJ., assignor to Monroe Calculating Machine Company, Orange, NJ., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 13, 1955, Ser. No. 534,021

12 Claims. (Cl. 235- 133) This invention relates to improved means for detecting and indicating the arithmetic state or sign of a value registered in a series of register wheels having tens transfer mechanism whereby the rotation of any numeral wheel in a register drives a train of parts which directly transmits tens transfer movement to the numeral wheel of the next higher order. Such tens transfer mechanism may be appropriately classified as -wheel-to-wheel tens transfer mechanism.

More particularly the invention pertains to such means whereby differentiation may be made between any three of the following arithmetic states of the register; plus, zero or near zero (as will be explained hereinafter) or minus, with the register wheels stationary or moving.

The classification of wheel-to-wheel tens transfer mechanism may be subdivided as crawl type wheel-to-wheel tens transfer, and as jump type wheel-to-wheel tens transfer, the former indicating a continuous tens transfer, and the latter an intermittent tens transfer which usually occurs as the lower order wheel moves from 9 to 0 or 0 to 9. There are also known constructions of wheel-towheel type tens transfer mechanism which are intermediate to these two extreme subclassifications of crawl and jump."

All of the various constructions of wheel-to wheel tens transfer mechanism have a common characteristic, namely, there is no known means whereby wheel-to-wheel tens transfer mechanism'may, of itself, complete a tens transfer which is to run through as many as eight or more orders of numeral wheels, as is commercially necessary in adding and calculating machines having visually readable numeral wheels. For example, if 1 isadded to 09,999,999, the numeral wheels must be advanced to read 10,000,000. Machines equipped with visually readable numeral wheels and with wheel-to-wheel tens transfer mechanism are necessarily equipped with auxiliary alining, boosting or justifying mechanism to complete such a tens transfer in the higher orders of the wheels to and through which it is transmitted.

The present invention is usable in and may be applied to any type of computing machine having wheel-towheel tens transfer mechanism in which it is desired to procure an indication of the arithmetic state or sign of a value registered in said numeral wheels prior to the completion of the tens transfer operation by the operation of the alining, boosting or justifying mechanism.

There is another type of computing machine which, because it prints the answers on paper, does not require visual reading of the numeral wheels. Inasmuch as some such machines are equipped with means whereby totals may be printed without completing partial tens transfer actions, alining, boosting or justifying mechannism to adjust the numeral wheels to full figure position are not required in such machines. This invention is also usable in machines of this type.

There is in widespread commercial use a species of computing machine which embodies means for detecting an overdraft value on the passage of a machine from plus or zero value registration to negative sign registration. In such machines there is no differentiation between a zero value reading of the numeral wheels and a plus value reading. As set forth in applicants Patent No. 2,339,616, commercial advantages may be gained by a mechanism which can differentiate between a plus value registration, a zero value registration, and a minus value registration. The science of mathematics usually assumes that there are two arithmetic signs; i.e., plus and minus, and that a zero value is without sign. It will be convenient for the purpose of this description to assume that there are three arithmetic signs and that the state of zero registration be regarded as having a zero sign.

The present invention is particularly adapted to detect and indicate any one of these signs of registration alone, either of two, or any onevof all three, and these indications may be made to serve any of the several purposes for which such detection and indication may be useful, for example, the control of the program of operation in division.

Aside from detecting the arithmetic sign of a value registered in a series of numeral wheels, there can be an advantage in detecting the time within a cycle of registration at which there is a change of sign. Wheel-towheel type of tens transfer mechanism has an inherent characteristic which distinguishes it from other types of tens transfer mechanism, which may be illustrated as follows.

Assume a six wheel register holds the value 000002, and that 3 is to be subtracted in one cycle of operation. The Wheels of the register will arrive at zero registration at two-thirds cycle. If instead of 3, 6 is subtracted, the register will arrive at zero registration at one-third cycle.

One utility of detecting the time in a cycle of registration at which an arithmetic change of sign occurs, is set forth in applicants above-mentioned Patent No. 2,339,- 616 which provides for a reduction of the number of cycles of operation required to make a calculation of division by detecting whether the numeral wheels arrive at a zero registration during the first half, or during the second half of a cycle of registration' "Said patent discloses means whereby a change in the indication of the sign in the first half or the last half of any cycle of registration may be utilized to appropriately control the operation of the machine, and the devices of the present invention are particularly suited for use with said means. i

It is believed that the present invention makes possible thedetection and indication of a change of sign closer to the instant at which it mathematically occurs within a cycle of operation than any previously known device. This virtually instantaneous indication permits higher speed of operation in programs in which this indication is used, such as division calculations, printing of a true negative balance, etc.

If the present invention is applied to a machine having the operational features in division which are set forth in the above-mentioned patent, the objectives would, in a general way, be the same as the objectives of the corresponding mechanisms of that patent; but the means of the present invention for attaining those objectives by the detection and indication of sign are totally different in constructional principle and mode of operation, and gain additional advantages.

One of the additional advantages is that the present invention provides for an ever present sign signal which is always available whenever a sign signal may he wanted, whereas the invention of Patent No. 2,339,616 requires that the signal transmitting bars 227 and 228 shown in Figure 17 must be separated and released to detect a sign signal if a sign signal is to be procured at all times at which such a signal may be useful.

of elements for the detection and transmission of state or sign signals. This series of elements will, for want of a 'better name, be referred to as a signal pile; that is, a series of members movable into and out of alinement with one another, and through which motion may be transmitted by one driving another to detect and transmit sign signals.

When all but one of the elements have been moved into alined position, movement of this one element to alined position will create an impulse 'which is transmitted from one to the other of each higher order element and thus to a signal receiving and indicating device. In modified forms of the invention this impulse which is transmitted through the series of alined elements may be derived from some means other than the movement of all of said elements into alinement.

The fundamental principle of the invention may be expanded to include two such signal piles, Le, a dual series of elements which may be arranged to detect and indicate any one of three states; a plus sign registration, a zero ornear zero state, or a minus sign registration. The designation of zero or near zero state will be explained hereinafter.

Six embodiments of the invention will be shown and dmcribed. Many variations of these embodiments are possible, these six having been chosen to progressively illustrate elements which may be coordinated with the basic elements of the signal pile for the attainment of some of the uses to which it may be put, and various coordinations of the several elements to attain various effects.

Figure 1 is a front view, partly in section, of a signal pile in its most elemental form as described in embodiments #1 and #3.

' Figure 2 is a detail sectional view showing an ordinal pair of register wheels with crawl tens transfer mechanism, such as is usable in all six illustrated embodiments of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a variation of the signal pile illustrated in Figure 1, as modified for embodiment #2.

Figure'4 is a front view of one of the members shown in Figures 6 and 7 asmade for embodiment #4.

Figure 5 is a front view showing a modification of the members illustrated by Figure 4, as they would be made for use'in embodiments 5 and #6.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side view partly in section, illustrating further features of the invention, as set forth in embodiment #4. I Figure 7 is a perspective view of the mechanism shown in Figure 6. i

' Figure 8 is a front view of the principal elements of the signal pile mechanism shown in Figures 6 and 7, modified to illustrate embodiments #5.

Figure 9 is a plan view of a dual signal pile for the detection and indication of a zero or near zero registration, a plus sign registration or a minus sign registration, as illustrative of embodiment #6, and also explanatory of a possible expansion of embodiment #3.

Figure 10 illustrates a modification of certain mechanism shown in Figure 6, adapted for coordination with a dual signal pile such as is shown in Figure 9.

Embodiment #1 I sign only under limited. conditions, as will be explained.

Embodiment'ii'l is set forth principally for the purpose of explaining the fundamental principle of the invention in its simplest form and with a minimum of e ments.. This embodiment might, in certain casesrhgyg commercial utility without any of the additional elements set forth in the other embodiments, for example, in a counter in which digital values are entered in the units numeral wheel, the higher order wheels receiving tens transfers only.

Registering wheels Figure 2 is illustrative of any register having a wheelto-wheel type tens transfer, from which it may be desirable to procure an indication of state or sign before a tens transfer through a plurality of the wheels is completed, or if said tens transfer is not to be completed. As shown in Figure 2, the register'is of the well-known crawl tens transfer type, and no means is shown for completing the tens transfer through the several numeral wheels 1 by alining, booster or justifying mechanism because such mechanisms are well known in the art, and also because they are not necessary to the functioning of the mechanism of the invention.

Means for registering digital values in the numeral wheels 1 of the register are also well known in the art.

Such digital actuation may be normal (full figure) as shown in Figures 8 and9 of applicants Patent No. 2,150,578, whereby a numeral wheel is rotated 1 to'9 steps to register digital values 1 m9, or itmay be shortcut as illustrated in Figure 3 of said patent, or as dis closed in applicants Patent No. 2,233,912, the digit 9 being entered as 10-1, 8 as 10-2, etc.

Figures 6 and 7 may be referred to as illustrative of the registration of digital values in the numeral wheels 1, and as disclosing the coordination of the signal pile mechanism of Figure 1 with the register mechanism of Figure 2 in all six embodiments of the invention set forth herein. These figures, however, show the numeral wheels 1 of the register mounted in ashiftable carriage and output gears 2 of any known suitable digital actuators mounted in the stationary framework of the machine, in which the signal pile mechanism of Figure 1 is also mounted. Embodiment #1, assumes no relative shiftability between the numeral wheels and the signal pile elements, the extreme right numeral wheel may be regarded as remaining in permanent relation with the extreme rightahand element of the signal pile mechanism. l

The numeral wheels 1 (Figs. 2 and 6) are driven to register digital values from the output gears 2 (Fig. 6) of the digitalactuator mechanism, through the gears 3 and 4 which drive the numeral wheel input gears 5.

The'numeral wheels 1 are driven by input gears 5 (Fig. 2) through gears 6 secured to gears 5 by a sleeve, internal-external gears 7, and internal gears 8 to which the numeral wheels 1 are secured. The crawl tens transfer is transmitted from wheel to wheel through gears 9, 10, 11 and 12, the latter driving an eccentric on which internal-external gear 7 is rotatably mounted. This tens transfer mechanism is operatively equivalent to that shown in applicants Patent No. 2,089,- 682, but of improved construction. This arrangement provides that if gear 12 is'rotated to transmit a tens transfer to a numeral wheel 1, and gear 6 is simultaneously rotated to transmit a digital value to the same numeral wheel, both values will be simultaneously transmitted to numeral wheel 1 and totalized thereby.

Devices for detecting and indicating a sign signal Figure 1 shows the elemental construction of a signal pile mechanism as it may under certain conditions be used for the detection and indication of a zero registration inthe several numeral wheels.

' This construction comprises a series of ordinally arranged rockers 13, each of which has slidably mounted thereina pin or plunger' 14. Each rocker 13 is operated by the rotation of the ordinally related numeral wheel 1, through a cam 15, and a dependent lever 16, as shown in Figs. 1, '6 and 7. Cam-15 is secured to gears 10 and 11 misses which are driven in 1:1 ratio with numeral wheel 1 by gear 9 secured to the numeral wheel. Cam 15 is provided with two opposite slopes or inclines, between which there are arcuate dwells, one of short radius and one of long radius. Figures 6 and 7 show cam 15 in the position it takes when the numeral wheel which drives it is at 0 position. In Figure 7, two cams 15 are shown in adjacent decimal orders, but the gears 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 and 12 related to cam 15 in the higher order are omitted for simplification of the drawing.

A pivotally mounted arm 17 is linked to each lever 16, providing that the nose of lever 16 shall always ride the face of cam 15. Whenever a numeral wheel stands at naught or zero position the nose of lever 16 and of arm 17 contact the middle of the opposite slopes of the cam 15, positioning rocker 13 in its middle position. In Figure 1, three of the four rockers 13 are shown at or very close to the middle position each would take when the related numeral wheel stands at or very close to naught. The right-hand rocker 13 stands in its extreme lowest position, such as it would take whenever the related numeral wheel 1 stands at 9, 8, 7 or 6.

Figure 1 may be regarded as illustrative of a registration of 9999 in the four related numeral wheels 1, in which case the corresponding crawl tens transfer reading of the numeral wheels would be as follows:

Because the units wheel stands at 9, the related rocker 13 stands in its lowest position as shown in Figure l, but the three higher order wheels stand so close to their 0 positions that the rockers 13 related to those wheels stand virtually at their middle portions, and since all of the pins 14 do not stand in alinement, the signal pile which comprises the several pins 14 is collapsed by the spring impelled indicating lever '18 at its left-hand end.

If, now, the units wheel is rotated from 9 to 0, as it would be if 1 were added to 9999, all the numeral wheels would stand exactly at 0; the pin 14 in the units order would have been moved upward into line with the pins in the higher orders, and would have been pushed leftward by the cam projection 19 fixed on the frame B.

In this movement the left end of pin 14 in the units order would, because of its bevel on each end, and the bevel on the right-hand end of pin 14 in the tens order, push pin 14 in the tens order leftward about twice as far as the pin 14 in the units order is pushed leftward by the cam projection 19.

This leftward movement of pin 14 in the tens order pushes the pins 14 in the higher orders, rocking the spring impelled indicating lever 18 at the left end of the stack of pins counterclockwise, indicating that all of the numeral wheels of the registers'tand at 0. p v I The spring impelled indicating lever 18 serves to collapse the signal pile whenever one of the pins moves out of alinement, and also serves as an indicator to tell whether or not a zero value is registered. A small flat face is provided within the bevel on each end of each pin 14, providing for the full projection of the signal pile even though one or more of the numeral wheels should not stand precisely at naught, and even though there may be some lostmotion in the train of parts which position each rocker 13.

If now the units wheel is advanced from 0 to 1, in which case the four numeral wheels would stand in the crawl positions the pin 14 in the units order would have moved upward out of alinement with the other pins and above the cam projection 19, permitting the signal pile to collapse, and the indicating lever 18 to again show that the several wheels do not register the value zero.

If 3 is added to 1 to give a total of 4, there is no change in the position of the rockers 13- or the'pins 14,

biit if one more is added to give a total of 5, cam 15 has rotated 180 from its 0 position, returning rocker 13 related to the units order wheel to its middle position, at which pin 14 of that order could project the pins of higher order if said higher order pins were in alinement. However, the signal pile must not be projected upon movement of the units wheel to 5. When the units wheel registers 5, the four wheels show a crawl reading as follows:

The tens wheel stands one half figure space from 0. The slope on cam 15 may extend through a range of .5 either side of its middle point which is the 0 position. That is to say, said slope may extend from 9.5 to 0.5, and for best working conditions, should not extend beyond that range. That range could of course be reduced whenever operating conditions permit. This crawl movement of the tens numeral wheel 1 from 0 to .5 when the units wheel moved from 0 to 5, and the accompanying movement of cam 15 and lever 16 rocked the rocker 13 in the tens order to its upper position so pin 14 in the tens order is out of line with the other pins 14, so the signal pile remains collapsed.

If 1, 2, 3 or 4 is next added so the units wheel registers 6, 7, 8 or 9, lever 16 again rests on the high portion of cam 15, the units order rocker 13 is again in the position in which it is shown in Figure 1, and the signal pile has remained collapsed. It may be seen that if further additions are made, the pile will remain collapsed until sufiicient value has been added to again bring all the wheels of the register to 0. It will be obvious that it is immaterial which wheel is first moved from its 0 position to collapse the pile, and that it cannot be againprojected until all of the wheels which may position the pins come to 0.

The converse is of course true; i.e., if the register wheels all stand at 0 with the pile projected, and subtractions are made, the pile will collapse as soon as one of the wheels moves from 0 to 9.5, and the pile cannot be again projected by'further subtractions until suflicient subtractions have been made to again bring all the wheels to naught.

It is to be further noted that the embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 1 will give -a zero signal as a registered value changes from positive to negative or negative to positive only under certain conditions. Assume four wheels register 0007, the crawl reading of which is: Y

If 8 is subtracted from the units wheel, all four wheels will be at naught when /3 of 8:7 has been subtracted, and the signal pile will be momentarily projected at that instant, but will have resumed collapsed position when the units wheel moves further to 9.5, and will remain collapsed when the subtraction of 8 has been completed to register the overdraft of 1 complementally as 9999, the crawl reading of which is:

.If on the other hand, were to be subtracted from 0007, no zero signal would begiven because the units wheel does not move from the 7 position, so the pins 14 are at no time in alinement, and no zero signal is given in this case as the registration changes from the plus value 0007 to the value 73 expressed complementally as 9927, the crawl reading of which is:

Thus the utility of embodiment #1 of the invention as illustrated by Figure 1 is quite limited and additional features are necessary to utilize this invention in some of its most useful applications. As embodied in Figure 1 and as described above it would have utility as a means for detecting and indicating a zero value in all cases in ascends tration. It will be further explained how two signal piles of embodiment #2 may be provided to detect and indicate any one of three signs, 0 or Such an arrangement may 'be appropriately called dual signal piles. As rockers 13 are operated in embodiment #1, rockers 13a of Figure 3' areoperated from the numeral Wheels of a register (Fig. 2'), through cams 15 and levers 16 To attain this result, each rocker 13a is provided with a cam projection 21 which will be hereinafter referred to as the button, and no pin 14a is provided in rocker 13a related to the numeral wheel 1 of lowest order.

As shown in Figlre 3, the rockers 13a stand as positioned by the registration of zero value. Pins 14a are in alinement and the signal pile is collapsed. Assume 0001 is subtracted to register the value 1 expressed 'c'omplementally as 9999, the crawl reading of which is as stated above,

The rocker 13a of lowest order has moved to its lowest position, In that movement-its button 21 pushed pin 14a in thetens order leftward, and since that pin stands close to its middle (zero) position and all higher order pins are in close alinement with pin 14a of the tens order, the signal pilev is projected, and indicating lever 18 shows that an overdraft has occurred, and that thenumeral wheels I register a negative value. I v If 4 more is subtracted to register 9995, the rocker 13a of lowest order will have moved to its ineifective middle position, but the, rocker 13a in the next higherorderwill have moved to its lowest position so its buttonv 21 will maintain the projection of the pile. If further subtractions are made, the pile will remain projected until the capacity of the signal pile mechanism to detect and indicate negative sign registrations has been exceeded. In commercial applications, the capacity of the signal pile mechanism to detectand indicate signs may be made adequate for all purposes by providing one or more numeral wheels 1 at the left-hand end of the register, whichare not operated-by the digital actuators, but may receive tens transfers, and by providing signal pile mechanism which operates in conjunction with said numeral wheels the same as with the'numeral wheels of lower order.

Starting again with the numeral wheels registering zero a value with the signal pile collapsed, assume additions are to be made. The pile must remain collapsed. If I, 2, 3 or 4' is added, rocker 13a of lowest order will move to its upper position, the pile remaining collapsed. If another addition advances the units wheel' to 5, rocker 13a in the units order is in its middle position, and rocker 13a in the tens order isin its upper position, and the pile is still collapsed. If 1 is again added to give a total of 6, rocker 13a in the units order is in its lowest position holding pin 14a in the tens order leftward, but since pin 14?: in the tens order is in its upper position. and pin 14a in the hundreds order is very close to its middle position, the pile is still collapsed.

From this it maybe seen that further additionsmay be made without project-ion of the pile, and that if one or more numeral wheels at theleft end of the register receive tens transfers only, the machine may be made so thatany commercially'desired number'of further additions m'ay be made without the pile being again projected. The mechanism of this embodiment-#Zis not. subject to the same limitation as embodiment' #1. Consider again the example 0007 --0080=.73 registered complementally as 9927. Before the subtraction is started, the numeral, wheels show the crawl registration:

The rocker 13a in the units order is in its lowest position, the rocker in the tens order is in its highest position,and the rockers in the hundreds and thousands orders are virtually at their middle positions. 7 e

As the tens order numeral wheelmoves' subtractively from 0.7 in the subtraction of 8 from that wheel, the pile is projected as the wheel moves from 0.5 to 0.0, indicating an overdraft, and remains projected as the subtraction continues further into the overdraft, as explained above. V

,This example is illustrative of a case in which the signal pile of embodiment #2 may be projected by movement of a numeral wheel to zero registration, but in any case, the origin of an overdraft signal resides in one of the rockers being in its lowest position.

If embodiment #2 is to function unfailingly under any and all conditions, the signal pile must extend rightward to theextreme right-hand numeral wheel of the register. Assume, for example, that the register is shiftable with relation to the signal pile. Consider the example registered as 9999 the crawl reading of which-is:

If the register is shifted two'places rightward after 99 has been added, and if the signal pile does not extend rightward so it may function with the units and tens wheels with the register in this shifted position, an overdraft signal will not be given, since the origin of the signal Fin this case resides in the units order-wheel. If the signal pile is'ex'tended rightward so it can function in relation to all the numeral wheels in the shifted position, the pile will be projected by the movement of the hundreds wheel from its initial positionof 0.99 to its final reading of 9.99. I

As shown'and described, embodiment #2 serves to detect and indicate an overdraft'regis'tration in contrast with a zero value or plus registratiomjbut obviously the arrangement may be inverted to detect a plus value registration in contrast with a zero value or aminus registration.

Embodiment #2 may be expanded by the provision oftwo signal piles. As explained above, each rocker 13a carries but one .pin 14a. If rockers 13a are provided with rearwardly extending arms similar to the forwardly extending arms, and pins 14a and buttons 21 are provided for said'rearwardly extending arms so there will be two signal piles which operate similarly, the rearward pile ,will be projected when the numeral wheels I register a plusvalue, the forward pile will be projected when the numeral wheels register a minus value, and both piles will be collapsed when a zero value is registered. This dual signal pile arrangement of embodiment #2 provides forthe indication of all three signs, 0 or and means will be described in connection with embodiments #3 and #5 whereby this indication of any one of the three signs (including zero and nearzero), may be re- Eml aodime nt #3 V This embodiment will be explained with reference to Figures 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7'.

' There can be'utility in providing that the signal pile mechanism shall function with only a portion of the register instead of with all numeral wheels of the register. There 'aretwo ways in which the signal pile mechanism may be made to function with a portion of the numeral wheel register; one way is by providing shiftability of said register with relation to the signal pile mechanism. This is the basis of embodiment #3. The other way will be set forth in embodiment #4.

According to embodiment #3, the numeral wheels 1 are mounted in a shiftable carriage'such as the one designated by the letter C in Figure 6, and the signal pile mechanism is mounted in the base framework designated as B with the understanding that the signal pile construction of embodiment #3 is the same as embodiment #1 as shown in Figure 1, and does not include members 23 shown in Figures 4, 6 and 7, these members 23, and the parts which operate them having utility in other embodiments.

The cams and levers 16 are also mounted in the carriage along with the numeral wheels, and the ends of the lower arms of levers 16 are arranged to slide through slots formed in rockers 13 of the signal pile mechanism. Calculating machines usually have sixteen or more numeralwheels in the carriage, but for simplification assurne there are six orders'of numeral wheels 1 in the carria'ge and that there are four orders of the signal pile mechanism of Figure l as described under embodiment #1, in the base of the machine. The slots of rockers 13 and the lower ends of levers 16 are provided with bevels,

If the carriage C is placed at the extreme left so the four right-hand numeral wheels operate the four rockers 13, and 8 is subtracted from the numeral wheel which registers 0.7, the efiect would be the same as explained in embodiment #1; that is, no zero signal would be given.

However, if the carriage is shifted one place (decade) rightward, and 8 is subtracted from the wheel which registers 0.7 the pile would be momentarily projected as 8 is subtracted from that wheel. This projection would indicate the time in the cycle at which zero value is reached, and would indicate that there has been a change of sign, in this instance from plus to minus.

Shiftability between themembers operated by the numeral wheels (such as levers '16) and the elements of the signal pile (rockers 13 and pins 14), to provide that a signal. may be given because the signal pile is not operated by one or more of the numeral wheels of lower order,.may be used in conjunction with calculating machine operation control mechanism similar to that set forth in applicant's above-mentioned Patent No. 2,339,- 616 for the control of the program of operation of division.

Near zero signal Consider the example 31 -30.=l. If the carriage stands one place rightward so there is no rocker 13 related to the units wheel which registers 1, the crawl reading of the six numeral wheels of the register after the subtraction is made would be:

The tens, hundreds, thousands and ten-thousands wheels are related to the four rockers 13, and all of these numeral wheels stand so close to naught that the signal pile will stand projected as in giving a zero signal, although in this case the crawl registration in the four wheels related to the pile is not exactly zero. From this it is seen that when one or more numeral wheels at the righthand end of the register do not operate in conjunction with the signal pile, the value registered in the wheels related to the pile may be zero or near zero, so it is possible for the pile to give either an exact zero signal or a near zero signal. The range through which a ero o'r near zero signal will be given may appropriately be designated as the zero signal band.

Mathematically this zero signal band must be less than plus or minus unity. The drawings show constructions providing a zero signal band which is less than plus or minus one-half unity, but these constructions may be modified to vary the width of the band within the theoretical limits.

If sign detecting and indicating mechanism is used in a calculating machine for the control of the program of operation in division, the indication of a zero or near zero sign immediately prior to'the start of the computation of a quotient digit shows that said quotient digit is 0, that digital registration may be omitted in that decimal order, and that the carriage may be immediately shifted to the next decimal order. The above-mentioned Patent No. 2,339,616 sets forth means whereby a zero o'r near zero signal may be utilized to gain that advantage.

It is to be noted, however, that the shifting of the carriage rightward to move one or more of the numeral wheels out of range with the functional elements of the signal pile, is not in itself sufiicient to serve all the utilities resulting from effectively operating the signal pile from a leftward portion of the register. It may be further noted that this effect of shifting the carriage, which has been described as combined with the mechanism of embodiment #1, is equally effective in conjunction with the mechanisms set forth in the other embodiments #2, #4, #5 and #6, for the procurement of maximum over-all effects in the use of signal pile mechanisms.

. Embodiment #4 Figures 4, 6 and 7 disclose means whereby a leftward portion of the signal pile may be made active from any selected point. This activation is brought about by the setting of a pivotally mounted member which will be hereinafter referred to as the interponent.

Figure 4 is a front view of an interponent 23 as it might appropriately be designed for use in embodiment #4.

The upper end of each interpo'nent 23 is between the ends of each adjacent pair of pins 14 as shown in Figure 7. This upper end has a wide portion, flanked by four cam faces, two above and two below, which cam faces terminate in narrower portions. I

. When a numeral wheel 1 stands at 0 or 5, the related rocker 13 stands in its middle position. If two adjacent rocker-s are in their middle positions, the pins 14 in said rockers will stand opposite the wide portion of the interponent, so if the lower order pin 14 is pressed leftward, the interponent 23 will be rocked, pressing the next higher order pin 14 leftward.

- As shown in Figure 7, there is an interponent 23 on the right-hand side of rocker 1 3 and pin 14 of lowest (righthand) order, but no pin 14 on the right-hand side of :1 1 that interponent, so-if all the interponents 23 were free to rock, they could all yield rightward under the spring pressure from the indicating lever 18 shown in Figure l and assumed to be present although not shown-in Figure 7, and in this condition, the pile could not be projected leftward to give a signal. i

The signal pile may be activated in any selected decimal order to causea signal to be initiated in that order and transmitted leftward through the pile, by setting one of the interponents to its counterclockwise position as viewed from thefront. In this embodiment '#4, the interponent which is set to effectively activate the pile, functions similarly to the 'cam projection 19 of Figure l,'embodiment #1;

The selected decimal order of activation is subject to some variation under different constructional and operational conditions, but for purposesof illustration it will be assumed that the signal pile is to be made active in the highest decimal order in whicha digital value is to be registered, and leftward therefrom. 'With this arrange mentwhatever numeral wheel happens to be in that order at any given time may be regarded as the significant numeral. Wheel. Suitable means 'for setting an interponentto activate the pile will be described hereinafter. Consider the example 31+-60- .29, and assume that the carriage is at the extreme left so the units order numeral wheel which registersthe digit 1 is in operative relation with the right-hand rocker 13. The digit 6 is tobe subtracted from numeral wheel 1 in the tens order, and this is the highest (leftward) order in which a digital value will be registered, and in this case, the tens order numeral wheel is the significant numeral wheel, and will be the source of the signal which is to be transmittedleftward through the pile.

Since the tens order wheel is to be the source of the signal, the interponent 23 at the right of pin 14in the tens order is to be set to its counterclockwise position to activate the pile leftward from that point.

At the start of the calculation the crawl reading of the four right-hand numeral wheelsl was:

and rocker 13 in the tens order stands in its upper position with its pin 14 opposite the upper narrow end of the set interponent-atits right. During the subtraction of 6 from the tens wheel, that wheel will move through 0 and will come to rest at its 7.1 position. As it moved from 0.5 to 0.0, the related rocker 13 moved to its middle position and pin '14 moved downward from the uppennarrow portion of interponent 23 on its right, to the. middle of the wider portion and was pressed leftward in that movement, and interponent 23 at its left was rocked counterclockwise.

At that instant, all higher order wheels were at 0 and all the pins 14 toward the left were alined with the middle of the widened ends of the interponents and the signal pile was momentarily projected. As said wheel in the tens order moved further from 0 to 9.5, the related pin 14 moved below the wide portion of the interponent, permitting the pile to collapse under the above described spring pressure against its left end. The momentary projection of the signal pile indicated that the registration passed through zero value, and that there was a change of sign.

In the above described action, the tens order pin 14 was cammed leftward by "its downward movement to the wide middle portion of the previously set interponent 23 at its right. This movement was transmitted ,tothe next leftward interponent, and augmented by the downward movement of the same pin 14 from the narrow'portion to the wide portion of that interponent. Thus the leftward movement of each interponent 23 and each pin 14 at the left of pin 14 in the tens order, is approximately twice that of said pin 14 in the tens order,

1 If the example had been 3:l-30,= 1, the four right 12 hand-numeral wheels 1 would have stopped with a crawl reading of: j I

and'anear zero signal would have been given as explained above, indicating that the value registered in the three effective wheels falls, within the zero signal band.

If the example is 35=- -'2, and 5 is to be subtracted from the units wheel with the. carriage in its extreme leftward position, the interponent 23 at the right of the rocker 13 and pin 14 in the units order should be set to its counterclockwise position toactivate thepile, otherwise no signal would begiven. I i

In fact this extreme right-handinterponent (which perhaps should not be called an interponent because there is no pin 14 at the right of it), may be perrnanently set, because if any interponent-23 is set in a higher order, the setting of any interponent of lower Order'iswithout efiect. Thus this extreme right-hand 'interponent'may be omitted, and a double cam' face membersimilar to earn projection19 of Figure 1 may be fixed on the framework to simulate the action of the upper left side of a set interponent. j I If an interponent 23 is provided at the right' of the extreme right-hand rocker 13 and pin 14, audit that interponent is not permanently set, and if no interponent of higher order is 'set, the signal pile would be in a dis abled condition. .The word .activation as used here, does not, however, imply that a' signal pile must have been disabled in order to be activated; it implies that the point from which it may be made active may be changed from one to another order. If the interponent at the right of the extreme right-hand rocker 13 and pin 14 is permanently set, or if a double cam face mem ber similar to cam projection '19 is put in its place, the signal pile would never be in a disabled condition, but may be rendered. active leftward from one or another decimal order. 4

Setting the interponent It would of course be possible to selectively set, any one of the several interponents 23 manually to activate the signal pile leftward from any desired decimal order, but it is preferable that this setting shall be incidental to some other necessary setting action; By way-of illustration,fFigures 6 and 7 set forth means which maybe provided for setting the interponents to activate the signal pile in one way in which it may be used for the control of the program of operationof a calculating machine in division calculations. T 3

Assume the divisor value is 4321 with any value in the numeral wheels as a dividend. The-"divisor 4321 has been installed in the digital actuators, and is to be subtracted during each cycle of registration until' the dividend arrives at or passes through zero value. The digit in the highest decimal order of the divisor is 4, and the signal pile is to be activated in the order in which that digit is set, and leftward therefrom. The numeral wheel which may be at any given time related to said divisor digit 4,-is the significant numeral wheel.

The installation of the divisor digit 4 may serve to set the appropriate interponent 23 to so activate the signal pile. As shown in Figures 4, 6 and 7, each interponent 23 is provided with an arm" extending rightwardly from its pivotal point. Figures 6 and 7 show means whereby this arm may be lifted, to rock an interponentcounten clockwise as ,viewed from the front, from its normal to-its set position; Figure 7 shows two digital value in stalling slides 48 as representative of one sueh installing slide in each'decimal orderin which divisor digitsfrnay be set. These slides are shown in their normal positions, as with-no divisor'digits installed.

When the divisor digit 4 i's installed, the-related slide 48 is displaced from its normal position. When so 'displaced, it rocks bell lever, 24 clockwise (Figs. 6 and 7.)

which in turn rocks arm 25 counterclockwise, which in.

. a 13 a turn rocks the interponent 23 counterclockwise to its set position. This provides that as the significant numeral wheel arrives at or passes through 0, the pile will be momentarily projected to transmit a zero signal to indicating lever 18 (Fig. 1) provided at the left end of the pile, which signal may be utilizable to control the operation of the machine.

It is obvious that with this construction, and with multidigit divisorssuch as 4321, interponents 23 in lower decimal orders would also be set, but without effect because it is immaterial whether any or all interponents of lower decimal order are set. The leftmost interponent which is set'determines which wheel is to be the significant numeral wheel.

Figure 6 shows four digital value installing slides numbered 46, 48, 50' and 52. These numbers correspond with the numbers of the digital installing slides shown in Figures 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13 of applicants Patent Nol 2,233,912, and illustrate how the interponents may be set by such digital value installing mechanism as is shown in that patent.

All that was said about a near zero signal and the zero signal band in the description of embodiment #3, applies to this embodiment #4, and to any use of interponents or other devices used to activate a portion of the signal pile leftward from a significant numeral wheel.

Aside from the utility of interponents in activating a leftward portion of a signal pile, they lend a marked mechanical advantage in the operation of a signal pile mechanism. There is usually a certain amount of lost motion in numeral wheels and additional lost motion in the train whereby the numeral wheels rock the rockers 13, and this lost motion increases with wear. If there are no interponents and pins 14 act directly on one another, it could happen that the pins of the pile might not be properly alined when they should be alined, because one rocker 13 might stand high and its neighbor low because of lost motion. With the interponent between the pins, the same amount of lost motion in the rockers might cause no failure because if a pin 14 is at one extreme (high or low), the effective end of the interponent is never at the other extreme, but always in the middle. In this way twice as much lost motion in the rockers is tolerable if the interponents are present. For this reason, there is an advantage in using the interponents (for example, in Fig. 1, embodiment #1), regardless of whether, or not they are used to activate the signal pile leftward from some selected decimal 'order: If the interponents are used merely as a nullitier of excessive lost motion, the right: wardly extendingnarm of each, and the means. for presettingthe inter onents, would be omitted.

Embodiment This embodiment is with reference to Figures 2, 5, and 8.

It relates to the use of a signal pile which will be projected if the numflal Wheels register a zero or negative value and collapsed if the sign of registration is plus, or alternately to a signal pile which will be projected if the numeral wheels register a zero or plus value and collapsed if the sign of registration is minus.

Like the four embodiments previously described, Figure 2 is illustrativeof a numeral wheel register from which this signal pile may be operated.

The different action of this embodiment, compared th th P ce i embodimen r sul pr n p ly m the constructions which may be best seen in Figures 5 and 8 which function differently from those previously described. In these figures the interponent is numbered 31 because it is made differently from interponents 23 of Figures 4, 6 and. 7 which are used in embodiment #4, and the button is numbered 32 because, although it constructionally resembles buttons 21 of Figure 3 which are used in embodiment #2. button 32 serves a different putpose in this embodiment #5. In embodiment #2, button 21 served to project the pile, whereas in embodiment #5 the function of buttons 32 is to maintain the projection of'a signal pile after it has been projected by other means.

The difference in the interponents may be seen by comparing Figures 4 and 5. interponents 23 of Figure 4 were so made for embodiment #4 that pins 14 would stand below or above the widest portion of the upper ends of said interponents when said pins were in their lower or upper positions. interponents 31 of Figure 5 are so made that pins 14 may stand against the widest portion of the upper end of each interponent when said pins are in their middle positions, and in their lowest positions. This has been provided by extending said widest portion downwardly so the pins 14 will be out of position for engagement with said widest portions of interponents 31 only when in their upper positions. That is the construction of the interponents shown in Figures 8 and 9.

The action of a signal pile as used for embodiment #5 may be understood by referring to Figure 8. It will be explained as it would be constructed if it is to be collapsed when the numeral wheels I register a plus value, and projected when they register a zero (or near'zero) value or a minus value.

As shown in Figure 8, the numeral wheels are assumed to register the value 0001, and it is further assumed that the value 1 has been set in the units order of the digital actuator mechanism so that interponent at the right of pin 14 of the units order has been set as described in embodiment #4, to activate the signal pile in the units order and leftward therefrom, the units order numeral wheel now being the significant numeral wheel. Under these conditions the pile stands collapsed, indicating'a plus sign registration.

If now the machine is operated to subtract the value I assumed to be set in the units order digital actuator, the numeral wheels will all register naught, and the signal pile will be projected because rocker 13b in the units order will have been moved to its middle position, indicating that the registration is no longer plus.

If the value 1 is again subtracted to register the value --1 complementally as 999-9, rocker 13b and its pin 14 will move to the lowest position, but the signal pile will not collapse because the pin 14 does not move 011 the wide portion of the interponent on each side of it.

If four more is subtracted, to register the value 9995, the crawl reading of which is:

rocker 13b of the units order (and its pin 14), has returned to middle position, and the rocker in the tens order has moved its pin 14 downward to its lowest position, and the pile is still projected. 1

If however, 1 more is subtracted to register the value 9994, pin 14 of the units order is moved to its upper position, and the pile would collapse if some provision were not made to prevent it.

That provision is the button 32 on the left-hand side of rocker 13b of the tens order which now stands in its lowest position. That button serves to contact and hold the adjacent interponent 31 in its set position when the pin 14 in the tens order cannot hold said interponent set because said pin in the tens order is not held leftward because pin 14 in the units order is in its upper position.

Further subtractions may be made, but as the numeral wheels 1 go further into a negative registration, the above described action of the interponents 31 and buttons 32 in the higher orders will serve to maintain the signal pile projected. As explained above, one or more numeral wheels 1 which register tens transfer values only, should be provided at the left-hand end of the register, and signal pile elements should be related to said tens transfer wheels, to insure adequate capacity to the signal pile mechanism to correctly indicate signs under all commercial conditions.

. Returningto the initial registration of.-000l,-with the signal pile collapsed, it will be seen thatadditive registrations may be made to the capacity of the mechanism, without projection of the pile. 'At least oneof the pins 14 in the active portion of the pile will always be in its upper position. j

In Figure 8, arms 25, which set the interponents to activate the signal pile, are shown in the four right-hand orders, indicating thatthe-signal pile may be activated leftward from any one of several orders as explained in embodiment #4. The extreme'left-hand interponent 31 of Figure 8 is shown with a spring, and may serve as the Embodiment #6 will be explained with reference to Figures 9 and 10.

- eration of a computing machine. in accordance with the This embodiment differs from embodiment #5 in that 7 dual signal piles are provided to detect and indicate any one of the three signals, plus, zero and near zero, or minus. To provide for the two signal piles, rockers 13c are extended rearwardly to carry a second series of pins 14 opposite the forward series of pins 14, and duplicate interponents are provided for this rearward signal pile. Because the rearward pin 14 in any rocker 130 is in its upper position when the forward pin is in its lower position, the signals given by onesignal pile are complemental to the signals given bythe other pile.

Figure 10 illustrates a modification of the means shown in Figures 6 and 7 whereby the dual signal piles instead of a single signal pile may be activated in the highest decimal order in which a multi-digit value is installed for registration. Digit slide 48 of Figure 10 corresponds with digit slide '48 of Figure 7, or with digit slides 46, 48, 50 and 52 of Figure 6. An interponent setting member 53 is provided for each decimal order of digit installing slides, and is appropriately guided at its upper and lower ends for free vertical movement in response to, movement of the related digit slide or slides- The upper end of said member 53 underlies the horizontally extending arm ,of each of the two related interponents 31, providing for the setting of both interponents to activate thedual pin piles in the highest decimal order in which a digital value is installed. v It is assumed that theforward signal pileof Figure 9 functions exactly like the signal pile of Figure'8, which is to say, collapsed'when the numeral wheels 1 register a plus value, and projected when said wheels register a zero value (including a near zero value) or a minus value. It follows that the rearward signal pile of Figure 9 will-be collapsed when said numeral wheels register a minus value, and projected when they register a zero value (including a near zero value)'-'orfa plusvalue. This providesfor the. detectionjof all three signs, rearward pile only projected indicates plus, both piles pro.-

jected indicate zero or nea'rzero, forwardpile only projected indicates minus. Ifdesired those three indications may be resolved to a single member such as whifiietree 33 shown in Figure. 9 which is provided at its middle with a slot which embraces pin 34, and a spring 35 the ends of which are anchored tothe whiflietree, and formed with a coil which encircles pin 34 in sucha way that each end of spring 35 tends to press each end of 'whiflie-' tree 33 against the end of the related signal pile, and so tend to collapse the piles;

Figure 9 shows both signal piles projected would be if the numeral wheelsl register a zero value, or the controlling numeral wheels register a near zero value.

Both ends of whiflletreev 33 stand leftward, and its.

pointer indicates zero. If the forward pile collapses.be cause of a plus registration, the whiffletree pointer will indicate and if the rearward pile collapses, it vwill indicate s The position of this whiifletree may be utiliredito' control other devices whichjinturn, could, controlop as they.

sign of registration in the" numeral wheels -1, o'r such other devices could be directly coordinated withthe two signal piles without the intermediary of the whiffletree which has been shown primarily to illustrate how the indication of any one of three signals may be resolved to asinglernember. lnthe description of embodiment #2, itwasexplained that the singlesignalpile action of that embodiment could be expanded by the provision of dual signal piles. It has been shown that the single signal piles 'of embodi ments #2 and #5 are each expandable to give any one of the three signals, plus, zero (including near zero) or minus, by building dual signal piles of each type. It is to be noted, however, that these two types of dual signal piles are not operational equivalents, each has a marked advantage over the other for certain operational applica tions. .Thesignal piles of bothtypes are positively prof jected and each'collapses by spring action, but signal piles of the type of embodiment #2 collapse when the numeral wheels rotate to zero registration, whereas the signal piles of embodiments #5 and 6 are, projected as the numeral wheels rotate to zero registration, so' the preference resides in the time at which a positive action is desired in a given utilization of the invention.

This concludes the description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention lnnumerable variations of these embodiments are possible, and the, construction. may be modified to best serve the purposes'for which the invention may be applied. There'aremany possible constructions which pins 14.

Instantaneous action of the pin pile The invention has been s et forth in embodiments which permit positive and instantaneous detection and indication of any changeof sign. At the instant the numeral wheels arrive at the point'at which a signal pile should be projected, it is projected-since the numeral wheel which effects the projection positively drives 'a train of unyielding metal parts which are small enoug'hto have but little inertia to be overcome by the rotation. of the numeral wheel.

which it is used.

The collapse of a signal pile is at a lowerfspee d'because it"is spring impelled. This collapse is ofcourse, availableas an indication of sign, an'd'could beused for the control of operation programs where lesser speeds are permissible, but the several embodiments'have been arranged so that whenever instant signsignals are wanted,

drive transmission between each of saidv devices and-one of said wheels respectively each operable upon movement of the associated wheel to a given reading position to adjust the associated device in position operable to create a mechanical impulse or to transmit. an impulse created by the device of a lower'order wheel and means for receiving an" impulse from thehighest order device.

-' 2. The combination with,a'registerincluding anordinal series of numeral wheels'and wheel to wheelitenstransfer mechanism between said wheels; of aseries of adjustable sign signal creating and transmltting elements, an adjustable 'carrier'for each of said elements, a drive transmission between eachiof'said carriers and one of said-wheels respectivelyeach'operable, upon movement;

o-f-the associated Wheel to a-given registering position to d us ths=was ia d c rri o n n i fi me into:

would be equivalent to rockers 13 and This instantaneous response of a low inertia 'mechanismcan contribute in a substantial way, toward high speed of operation of any mechanism in a register including an ordinalseries of numeral wheels and wheel to' wheel tens trans- 17 position to create a mechanical impulse or to transmit an impulse created by the element of a lower order carwar and means for receiving an impulse from the highest order element.

3. The combination with a register including an ordinal series of numeral Wheels and wheel to wheels tens transfer mechanism between said wheels; of a series of sign signal creating and transmitting elements, an adjustable carrier for slidably supporting each of said elements, and a drive transmission between each of said carriers and one of said Wheels respectively each operable upon movement of the associated Wheel to a given reading position to adjust the associated carrier to bring its element into position for alignment and engagement with the next higher and lower order elements to there- I by transmit sliding movement to successive higher order aligned elements.

4. The combination with a register including an ordinal series of numeral wheels and wheel to Wheel tens transfer mechanism between said wheels; of sign signal creating and transmitting elements comprising a series of pins, an adjustable carrier for slidably supporting each of said pins in coaxial relation, and a drive transmission between each of said carriers and one of said wheels respectively, each operable upon movement of the associated Wheel to a given reading position to adjust the associated carrier to bring its pin into position for alignment with the other of said pins and for engagement with the next higher and lower order pins upon alignment thereof to thereby transmit sliding movement to successive higher order aligned pins.

5. The combination with a register including an ordinal series of numeral Wheels and wheel to wheel tens transfer mechanism between said wheels; of a series of sign signal creating and transmitting devices each adjustable by one of said wheels respectively and each operable upon movement of the associated Wheel to a given reading position to create a mechanical impulse or to transmit an impulse created by the device of a lower order wheel, an operation control activator for each of said signal creating and transmitting devices each adjustable to render the associated device, and all higher order devices effective to the exclusion of the lower order devices, means for selectively adjusting said control activators and means for receiving an impulse for the highest order device. I

6. The combination with a register including an ordinal series of numeral Wheels, Wheel to Wheels tens transfer mechanism between said wheels, a differentially settable actuator for each of said wheels, and selection means for entering digital values into said actuators; of sign signal creating and transmitting elements comprising a series of pins, an adjustable carrier for longitudinally slidably supporting each of said pins in parallel spaced relationship, an activator interposed between each pair of adjacent pins each effective upon entry of a digital value into one of said actuators respectively to render the higher order associated pin and all higher order pins operable, and a drive transmission between each of said carriers and one of said wheels respectively, each operable upon movement of the associated wheel to a given reading position to adjust the associated carrier to bring an operable pin into position to engage the adjacent activator and thereby create a mechanical impulse or to transmit an impulse created by the pin of a lower order carrier.

7. The combination with a register including an ordinal series of numeral wheels and wheel to wheel tens transfer mechanism between said Wheels; of a series of pairs of positive and negative adjustable sign signal creating and transmitting devices, and a drive transmission between each pair of said devices and one of said wheels respectively; each pair being operable upon movement of the associated wheel to Zero registering position to create a mechanical impulse or to transmit an impulse created by a pair of devices of a lower order wheel, and each 18 positive and each negative device being operable upon positive or negative movement of the associated wheel from negative or positive registering position respectively to create a mechanical impulse or to transmit an impulse created by the respective devices of a lower order wheel.

8. The combination with a register including an ordinal series of numeral wheels and Wheel to wheel tens transfer mechanism between said wheels; of a series of pairs of positive and negative adjustable sign signal creating and transmitting elements, an adjustable carrier for each pair of elements and a drive transmission between each of said carriers and one of said wheels respectively; each operable upon movement of the associated wheel to zero registering position to adjust the associated carrier to bring its pair of elements into position to create a mechanical impulse or to transmit an impulse created by the pair of elements of a lower order wheel, and each drive transmission being operable upon positive or negative movement of the associated wheel from negative or positive registering position respectively to adjust the associated carrier to bring a positive or negative element respectively into position to create an impulse or to transmit an impulse created by the respective elements of a lower order wheel.

9. The combination with a register including an ordinal series of numeral wheels and wheel to wheel tens transfer mechanism between said wheels; of a positive and a negative sign signifying series of signal creating and transmitting elements, adjustable carriers for slidably supporting said positive and negative elements in pairs respectively, and a drive transmission between each of said carriers and one of said wheels respectively each operable upon movement of the associated wheel positively or negatively to zero registering position to adjust the associated carrier to bring its positive and negative elements respectively into position for alignment With the other of said positive and negative elements and thereby into position to transmit sliding movement to or to effect sliding movement of successive higher order aligned positive and negative elements, and upon movement of said associated wheel positively or negatively from zero position said drive transmission being operable to adjust the associated carrier to move its negative and positive elements respectively from aligned position.

10. The combination with a register including an ordinal series of numeral Wheels and wheel to wheel tens transfer mechanism between said Wheels; of positive and negative sign signifying signal creating and transmitting elements each comprising a series or" pins, adjustable carriers for slidably supporting said positive and negative pins in pairs respectively, and a drive transmission between each of said carriers and one of said wheels respectively each operable upon movement of the associated wheel positively or negatively to zero registering position to adjust the associated carrier to bring its positive and negative pins respectively into position for alignment with the other of said positive and negative pins and thereby into position to transmit sliding movement to or to effect sliding movement of successive higher order aligned positive and negative pins, and upon movement of said associated wheel positively or negatively from zero position said drive transmission beng operable to adjust the associated carrier to move its negative or positive pins respectively from aligned position.

11. The combination with a register including an ordinal series of numeral wheels and wheel to wheel tens transfer mechanism between said wheels; of a positive and a negative sign signifying series of signal creating and transmitting elements, an adjustable carrier for mounting said elements in pairs respectively, an operation control activator for each pair of elements each adjustable to render the associated pair and all higher order pairs of elements effective to the exclusion of the lower pairs of elements, means for selectively adjusting said control activators, and a drive transmissionbetween each of said carriers and one of said wheels respectively each operable upon movement of the associated wheel positively or negatively to zero registering position to adjust the associated carrier to brin an effective pair of positive or negative elements respectively into position to create a mechanical impulse or to transmit an impulse created by a lower order positive or negative element, and upon movement of said associated Wheel positively or negatively from zero position said drive transmission being operable to adjust the associated carrier to move its negative or positive elements respectively from signal creating or transmitting positions.

12. The combination with a register including an ordinal series of numeral wheels, Wheel to wheel tens transfer mechanism between said wheels, a differentially settable actuator for each of said wheels, and ordinal digital value selection means, each operable to enter digital values into the actuator ordinally corresponding to the operated selection means and into the next higher order actuator; of a series of normally disabled adjustable signal creating and transmitting elements, an adjustable carrier for each of said elements, an activator for'each of said elements, each activator being effective upon entry of a digital value into'one of said actuators'respectively to render the associated element and all higher order elements operable,*and a drive transmission between each of said carriers and one of said wheels respectively, each operable upon movement of the associated wheel to a given reading position to adjust the associated carrier to bring an operable element into position to create a mechanical impulse or to transmit an impulse created by the element of a lower order carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 2 94IO 668 June 14 1960 George Co Chase It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1 line 6o for "mechannism" read mechanism column 3 line 54 for "embodiments" read embodiment column 5 line 33 for "portions" read positions column l4 line 28 for "that?" read the =3 column 17 line 6, for "wheels." second occurrence read wheel line 48 for "wheels'fl, second occurrence read wheel column l8 line 62 for bang" read being line 71 for "of elements" read of said elements; column l9 line 12, for "positions" read position =--D Signed and sealed this 13th day of December 1960 (SEAL) Attest:

KARL Ho AXLINE ROBERT C. WAT-SUN Attesting Oflicer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTlFlCAlE OF CORRECTION Patent N0o 2 940 668 June 14 1960 George C, Chase It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1 line 66 for "mechannism" read mechanism column 3,, line 541 for "embodiments" read embodiment column 5 line 3-3 for portions read positions column 14 line 28 for "that" read me the column 17 line 6 for "wheels" second occurrence read wheel line 48 for wheels second occurrence read wheel column l8 line 62, for "beng" read being line 71,, for "of elements" read of said elements column l9 line 12, for "positions" read position s Signed and sealed this 13th day of December 1960. (SEAL) Attest:

KARL li AXLINE ROBERT C. WAT-SUN Attesting Oficer Commissioner of Patents 

